Clutch device.



F. CARLSSON.

CLUTCH DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN 3. 1914.

1 ,2Q3,976. Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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F. CARLSSON."

CLUTCH DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED mu.3,19x4.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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CLUTCH DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MN. 3, 1914. 1,203,976. Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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' \JiISL EYE g TA FIRI'II OF GARLSSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO LIDGERWOOD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CLUTCH DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

Application filed January 3, 1914. Serial No. 810,108.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRITIOF CARLSSON, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at New York city, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutch Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates broadly and generally to new and useful improvements in clutch devices, and more particularly to an improved means for connecting and disconnecting a power-driven capstan from its power shaft.

The invention consists in the improvements to be more fully described hereinafter, and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

I have fully and clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings to be taken as a part of this specification and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an embodiment of my invention, the power shaft being shown in cross section. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the capstan looking at right-angles to Fig. 1, the same being shown partly in section, and the driving means for the capstan being shown in sec tion. Fig. 3 is a detail view, partly in section, of the means for connecting and disconnecting the capstan from its power shaft. Fig. 1 is a detail sectional view of the upper portion of Fig. 3 and showing locking means for holding the connecting and disconnecting means in one of its positions.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, A designates generally a platform or floor upon which the capstan is supported-for instance, thedeck of a vessel. Set in an opening in the platform A and supported by deck girders B is a base plate 1, the same being bolted to the deck plates 2 and said girders B by tie-bolts 3. This base plate is formed or provided with a central vertical bearing sleeve 4 through which extends a vertical shaft 5, said shaft extending at its upper end above said plate and having keyed thereto a capstan body 6. The base plate 1 may be provided with an annular series of ratchet teeth 7 with which cooperates a gravity pawl 8 pivoted at 9 on the capstan to prevent turning of the same man unwinding direction under strain of the line wound thereon. A suitable antifriction bushing 10 may surround the shaft 5 within the bearing sleeve 1, said bushing 10 having at its upper end an overhanging flange 11 overlying the adjacent portion of the plate 1 to serve as a bearing for the lower end of the hub Fr" of the capstan.

The lower end of the shaft 5 projects below the lower end of the sleeve 4, as at 12, and is squared or poly-faced, as at 13, to receive the correspondingly formed hub 14 of a beveled gear 15, which turns with said shaft. The squared end of the shaft 5 is loose within the hub 14, and is held down in place by a cross pin 13 The hub of the beveled gear is mounted to turn in a split bearing 16 supported on a hanger 17 bolted to a bracket 18 depending from the lower face of the plate 1. When the pin 18 is removed the shaft may be withdrawn, the gear 15 being supported by the bearing 16.

Depending from the bracket 17 is a split bearing 19 arranged at right-angles to the axis of rotation of the shaft 5 and gear 15, said bearing 19 being preferably lined with suitable bearing metal 20, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. From an examination of Fig. 1 it will be noted that the bearing 19 is formed in two partstl1at is, is asplit bearing the upper portion or half being carried by the lower end of the hanger arm 17 and. the lower half consisting of a cap plate 19" connected to the hanger by bolts 19 and clamping nuts 19.

Mounted to turn in the bearing 19 is a tubular sleeve 21 carrying at one end a beveled gear 22 meshing with said gear 15, heretofore described; while, at its other end, be-- yond the bearing 19, said sleeve 21 is provided with a clutch head 28 provided with clutch teeth 21 adapted to be engaged by a connecting element or clutch to be presently described.

Extending through the sleeve 21 and gear 22 is a power shaft 25, a lining of antifriction metal 26 being preferably interposed be tween said shaft and the inner surface of the sleeve 21 and said gear. The arrangement is such that the power shaft 25 may revolve freely within the gear 22 and sleeve 21 under conditions to be presently described.

Mounted on the shaft 25 to one side of the clutch head 23, and carried by said shaft, is a connecting element adapted to cooperate with the clutch head 23 to connect and disconnect the gear 22 from the shaft 25. This clutch element is preferably in the form of a sleeve 27 keyed, as at 28, to the shaft to turn with the latter, but capable of movement longitudinally thereof between the clutch head 23, and a stop collar 29 on the shaft 25 at the opposite end of said element 27 from the clutch head 23. At its end adjacent the clutch head 23 the connecting element 27 is provided with clutch teeth 30 adapted to cooperate with the clutch teeth 24, heretofore described, to clutch the gear 22 to the driving shaft when said element 27 is moved to the left, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

I will now describe the means for effecting movement of the connecting element 27 to throw the clutch teeth thereon into and out of engagement with the clutch head 23 carried by the gear 22. The connecting element 27 is formed at its opposite ends with oppositelyinclined cam surfaces 31, 32, adapted to be engaged alternately by a controlling device to cause the power exerted by the power shaftto force the connecting element longitudinally of the shaft either to connect it with the gear 22, or disconnect it therefrom. This controller preferably consists of a rocking element in the form of a sleeve 33 mounted on a rock shaft 34 and fixed thereto by set screws 35, said element 33 having oppositelydisposed fingers 36, 37, which, when the element 33 is rocked, by means to be hereinafter described, are respectively adapted to be moved into position to be engaged by the cam inclines 31 or 32. The rock shaft 34 is mounted in suitable bracket-arms 38 preferably forming part of the hanger 17 although other means may be provided for supporting said shaft, if desired. Rigidly connected to one end of the rock shaft 34 is a lever arm 39, the free end of which is seated in an opening 40 in the lower end of a vertically reciprocable pedal plunger 41 guided in a bracket 42 connected with one side of the yoke member 38, the upper end of said pedal plunger projecting upward through a sleeve 43 in the plate 1, and having at its upward end a pedal head 44 adapted to be engaged by the foot of an operator and thereby depressed to rock the rock shaft in one direction. In the present embodiment the downward movement of the pedal plunger operates to rock the rock shaft 34 to throw the finger 36 into the path of move ment of the cam incline 31 to cause the connecting element 27 to be moved lengthwise operator to throw the detent 46 out of engagement with said flange 45 to release the pedal plunger. The locking detent is automatieally urged into locking engagement with the flange 45 by means of an expansion spring 50 arranged between the foot-piece 49 and the bottom of the recess 48. The arrangement is such that, when the pedal plunger is depressed by the operator, the base of the flange 45 will engage and ride over the locking detent 46 and the spring 50 will thereupon throw the hook of the lockdetent over the upper edge of the flange to lock the pedal glunger in its depressed position, under which conditions the connecting element 27 will remain in engagement with the gear 22 and the capstan will be continuously driven from the power. shaft.

1 preferably provide means for quickly and positively disconnecting the connecting element 27 from the gear 22, which means I will now describe. 7

Connected to the rock shaft 34 and extending in the opposite direction generally from the lever arm 39 is a lever 51 carrying a weight 52 which is adjustably mounted on said arm 51 so as to be movable lengthwise thereof to regulate the degree of force the said weight exerts on the rock shaft. The weight is preferably held in adjusted position by means of a clamping screw 53 let through the same and adapted to engage at its inner end with the lever 51. This weight operates, when the pedal plunger is released from its locking detent, to rock the rock shaft 34 to move the finger 36 out of the path of movement of the cam incline 31, and to move the finger 37 into the path of movement of the cam incline 32, whereupon, the engagement of the cam incline 32 with the end of said finger 37 causes the connecting member 27 to be moved along the shaft 25 away from the gear 22 to thereby disconnect said connecting member and the gear 22 to permit the capstan to come to rest.

It is believed that the operation of the invention will be apparent from the above description, but I will briefly state the same as follows: The parts being constructed and arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that in all the figures of the drawings the connections are established to connect the capstan with the driving shaft to drive the capstan. If it is desired to dis connect the capstan from the driving shaft, the operator places his foot on the foot-piece 49, and, depressing the latter, releases the pedal plunger 41, whereupon, the weight 52 exerts its force to rock the rock shaft 34 to move the finger 36 out of holding relation to the cam incline 31, and to move the finger 37 into position to be engaged by the cam in cline 32. The continued rotation of the shaft 25 then brings said cam incline 32 around into engagement with the end of the finger 37, and, as the cam incline 82 reaches its highest point, the connecting member is forced longitudinally of the shaft to disengage the teeth 30 from the teeth 2%. As long as the finger 3'? is in the position just described, the connecting element will be held by the weight out of driving engage ment with the gear 22 and said gear will be at rest in its bearing, the shaft 25 turning loosely within the gear. The movement oi": the rock shaft 34 by the weight will cause the pedal plunger to be moved up ard, in which position it remains as long as the connecting element is disconnected from the gear 22. WVhen it is desired to connect the capstan with the power shaft 25 to drive the capstan, the operator places his foot on the pedal head 44 and depresses the pedal plunger #11, thereby rocking the rock shaft 3-1 in the opposite direction from that above described when disconnecting the clutch, to move the finger 87 out of the path of movement of the cam incline 32 and the linger 36 intothe path of movement of the cam incline 31. This having been done, the rotation of the connecting, element with the shaft will bring the cam incline 31 into err gagement with the finger 36 to cause the coin necting element 27 to be moved toward the clutch head 23 and place the clutch teeth 30 in driving engagement with the clutch teeth 24 on said clutch head. lVhen the pedal plunger is depressed and reaches the position necessary to connect the connecting ele ment with the gear 22, the flange 45 on the pedal plunger rides over the nose of the locking detent e6, whereupon the spring 50 throws said locking detent into locking engagement with the liange 45 to lock the pedal plunger in position to maintain driving connection between the driving shaft and the capstan.

The arrangement above described is particularly advantageous because it is not necessary for the operator to move heavy parts, or to exert an undue amount of effort in setting the parts, as only enough force is necessary to set the controller 33 either in clutch-making or breaking position, where upon the power exerted by the driving shaft is rendered effective to connect or disconnect said connecting element 27 from the gear 22.

IV hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In combination, a power shaft, a driven element loosely mounted on said power shaft, a connecting element carried by the power shaft and movable lengthwise thereof to be engaged with and disengaged from the said driven element on the power shaft, op positely disposed cams on said movable connecting element, and a controller having opposed operative faces adapted to be moved into enga ement with said cams to move &

said connecting element into or out of engagement with said driven element.

2. In combination, a power shaft, a driven element loosely mounted on said power shaft, a connecting element carried by the power shaft and mo able lengthwise thereof to be engaged with and disengaged from the said driven element on the power shaft, oppositely disposed cams on said movable connecting element, and a controller adapted to be moved in opposite directions into engagement with said cams to move said connecting element into or out of engagement with said driven element.

3. In combination, a power shaft, a driven element loosely mounted on said power shaft, a connecting element carried by the power shaft and movable lengthwise thereof to be engaged with and disengaged from the said'driven element on the power shaft, oppositely disposed cams on said movable connecting element, and a rocking member having oppositely disposed projections lo rated between said cams, said member be ing movable to place said projections in the path of one or the other of said cams to move said connecting element into or out of engagement with said driven element.

l. In combination. a power shaft, a driven element loosely mounted 011 said power shaft, a clutch sleeve carried by the power shaft and movable lengthwise thereof to be engaged with, and disengaged from, the said driven element on the power shaft, oppositely directed cam inclines on the end portions of said sleeve, a rocking member located between said cam inclines and having projections adapted to engage said inclines to move the clutch sleeve into and out of engagement with said driven element.

In combination, a power shaft, a driven element loosely mounted on said power shaft, a connecting element carried by the power shaft and movable lengthwise thereof to be engaged with and disengaged from the said driven element on the power shaft, oppositely disposed cams on said movable connecting element, a controller adapted to be moved in opposite directions into engagement with said cams to move said connecting element into or out of engagement with said driven element, a pedal member for moving said controller in one direction, and means for automatically moving said connecting element in the opposite direction when released from the pedal.

6. In combination, a power shaft, a driven element loosely mounted on said power shaft, a connecting element carried by the power shaft and movable lengthwise thereof to be engaged with and disengaged from the said driven element on the power shaft, oppositely disposed cams on said movable connecting element, a controller adapted to be moved in opposite directions into engagement with said cams to move said connecting element into or out of engagement with said driven element, a pedal member for moving said controller in one direction, and a weight for moving the controller in the opposite direction when released from the pedal.-

7. In combination, a power shaft, a driven element loosely mounted on said power shaft, a connecting element carried by the power shaft and movable lengthwise thereof to be engaged with and disengaged from the said driven element on the power shaft, oppositely disposed cams on said movable connecting element, a controller adapted to be moved in opposite directions into engagement with said cams to move said connecting element into or out of engagement with said driven element, a pedal member for moving said controller to engage one of said cams, means for lockin said pedal member, and a weight for moving said controller to engage the other of said cams when the pedal is released. from said lock.

8. In combination, a power shaft, a driven element mounted loosely on said power shaft, and provided with clutch teeth, a

clutch sleeve carried by the power shaft and movable lengthwise thereof, to be engaged with and disengaged from the said driven element on the power shaft, said sleeve having oppositely directed cam inclines at its opposite ends, a rock shaft extendingacross the power shaft, opposite projections on the rock shaft and adapted to be moved into engagement with said cam inclines, a lever connected to said rock shaft, a weight on said lever, a second lever on said shaft and extending in the opposite direction from the first-named lever, a pedal plunger operable on said second lever, and a latch for engaging the pedal plunger when the latter is depressed to rock said rock shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRITIOF ()ARLSSON.

Witnesses KARL J. DYBURG, F. A. KEMP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

